Fighting for change

Story by Lisa Swift

Conflict around the Masterplan has continued this month as the Burngreave Business Forum refused to endorse the Council’s consultation on the plans for Spital Hill.

At a meeting of the Business Forum on 23rd March, Sheffield City Council brought two options for a supermarket on Spital Hill. The Forum had been asked to decide whether to demolish the Ashram or the East House, to make way for the 5,000m2 supermarket, but the Forum refused to endorse either option. The meeting was then asked to endorse the consultation process, but they refused.

Supermarket plan

The Forum had put forward eight possible sites for the supermarket, which Burngreave residents have regularly said is needed. The Council said only the two sites on Spital Hill were suitable for the size of supermarket required.

The Councillors requested that the planners consider a smaller supermarket and some present requested more consultation. The Council agreed to take back the concerns raised and look again at the proposals and consider further consultation.

Talking to businesses

When the Messenger asked the Council if further consultation would take place, David Shepherd told us:

“Tuesday night’s meeting wasn’t representative of the overall feeling of businesses. We have done extensive consultation on the Masterplan particularly in Fir Vale and Spital Hill.We have conducted individual interviews with businesses based in Spital Hill, Catherine Street, and Kilton Hill to assess their views and needs. There will be a further technical appraisal of the supermarket location.”

The Council discussions with traders have been about the proposals to redevelop Spital Hill, this includes possible demolition and redevelopment of most buildings in the next ten years. The Council told us that of the 60 businesses they spoke to, 20 agreed with the proposals in principle and 13 agreed depending on acceptable relocation packages. The figures also showed that 25 businesses thought a supermarket would have a negative effect on existing traders.

Are the Council listening?

A member of Spital Hill Local Voice has been demanding the results of Masterplan consultation around Spital Hill for months and has had to use the Freedom of Information Act to get them. He discovered that in the three phases of the consultation, which have taken place over the last year, the Council have received only 265 responses from residents.

In the second phase, residents were asked to chose between options. The leading choice, with just 35 votes, was option three which had new buildings on both sides of Spital Hill leaving only Sorby House to be refurbished, and a food store is on the site of the Ashram.

This third option was taken forward to the final phase of consultation which began in November 2004, the Council has received 117 responses so far. In comparison Spital Hill Local Voice recorded over 800 signatures of local residents who were against the ‘wholesale demolition’ of Spital Hill.

“At no time have we proposed the wholesale demolition of Spital Hill,” the Council’s David Shepherd told us. “We understand people’s concerns and the petition has been fed into the consultation process, however we must focus on working through the groups already set up in the area to represent residents.”

Spital Hill Local Voice are still campaigning for ‘proper’ consultation to take place. The group argue that Burngreave residents have not been given the opportunity to express what they really want.

The Council told us the Masterplan will be going to the Cabinet, who will make the final decisions, on 11th May 2005.